Metallic railway-signal.



P A N G I S ou L YW A

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aftoznuzs rn: Nouns PETERS ca., wAsHlNcrtm, n4 cA PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.

J. H. TAYLOR.

METALLIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 4. 19'07.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN H. TAYLOR, OF WATERLOO, NEBRASKA.

METALLIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed March 4. 1907. Serial No. 360538.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vaterloo, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Metallic Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful metallic railway-signal andmore particularly to a signal to take the place of the ordinary staffand fabric-flag used on the heads of locomotives, on cabooses and alongthe tracks. l

The object of my invention is to provide a signal consisting of aplurality of pivotally held metallic blades that are capable of beingfolded into engagement with the staff or handle when the signaly is notin use.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claimsherewith appended.

Referring to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like characters ofreference denote similar parts throughout the several views Figure 1, isa View in perspective showing the signal with both flags out. Fig. 2, isan end view thereof looking in direction of the arrow, Fig. 1. Fig. 3,is a side elevation with one of the outer walls partly broken awayshowing the signal as folded in engagement with the stafl or handle.Fig. 4, is a view in perspective of one of the metallic signal blades'.Fig. 5, is a side elevation of another form of signal consisting ofpivotal metallic signal blades, the same being shown in operativeposition, one of the flags being out. Fig. 6, is an end view thereoflooking in direction of the arrow, Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a side elevationshowing the signal blades closed or folded .in engagement with thehandle and locked from falling out. Fig. 8, is a plan view of Fig. 5.Fig. 9, is a view in perspective of one of the flag or signal blades.

Referring to the drawings, A, designates a flag staff or handle beinglongitudinally recessed to form two housings 1, and 2 and having itslower end rounded to form a handhold 3.

Fivotally held by means of the pins 4 within the housings 1, and 2, area plurality of metallic flag or signal-blades 5, which are at theirextreme forward end pivoted to the connecting straps 6, by means of thepins 7. The straps 6, are notched at their lower end as at 8, to receivethe locking means which consists of the L shaped locking plate 9, whichis pivotally held between the ears 10, by means of the pin 11, and heldin a locked position by means of the expansion spring 12 as shown. Whenin practical use, only one fiag is displayed instead of two as shown inFig. 1, of the drawing, the drawing being made this way only, toillustrate the same clearly. One of the iiags is painted green while theother is white. lf the signal is used for track services the flags ofmetallic signal blades are pulled out from opposite sides instead offrom one side of the stafl'l as shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the flag or signal isnot required for use it may be incased or folded up in engagement withthe handle or staff as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the modification of my invention as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7,8 and 9, the same consists of the handle or staff B, beinglongitudinally recessed to form two housings 13, and 14, and having itslower portion rounded to form a hand-hold 15.

Pivotally held by means of the pin 16,

ing. The front of the flag staff or handle B,-

is covered by means of the plate 22 having the pocket 23, which receivesthe ears 19, of the signal-blades 17. Y

The means for holding the blades in a locked position consists of theapproximately U-shaped metal member 24, which is pivoted by means of thepin 25, at a point near the top of the staff as shown in Fig. 5. Thedownwardly extending lip 26, of the locking plate 24, rides in the outeredge of the blades 17, when opened and held in engagement with the sideedges of the blades when in a closed position as shown in Fig. 7. Thislock plate 24, is under spring tension as disclosed at 27, as shown inFigs. 5, and 7. It

will be observed that each of the lower blades 17, are provided with theear 28, to easily pull the blades out when desired. When it is desiredto pull the blades out, the operator pulls the locking plate 24, upwardas shown in Fig. 5, which causes lip 29, to partly push blades 17 out,when then the operator takes hold of ears 28, and pulls blades down toposition shown in Fig. 5. The blades then hold themselves in position.

It is of course understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the useof any particular kind of material in constructing my improved signal orflag, and it is also evident that various changes may be resorted to inthe forms, proportions, constructions, and arrangements of partsdescribed without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionhence I do not wish to be confined to the exact construction hereinset-forth and especially in the locking means, but consider myselfentitled to all such changes or variations as may fall within the spiritand scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A signal comprising longitudinally recessed staff and a series ofhinged metallic sections to form a flag.

2. A signal comprising a longitudinally recessed staff and a series ofhinged metallic sections having engagement with one another Vto form aflag.

3. A signal comprising a longitudinally recessed staff, a series offolding metallic sections pivotally connected to said staff and meansfor locking the same.

4. A signal comprising a longitudinally recessed staff ,l a plurality ofpivotally held metallic sections arranged to `form a flag, and means forconnecting said sections.

5. A signal comprising a longitudinally recessed staff, a plurality ofmetallic sections pivotally connected to said staff and means forconnecting said sections with one another to form a folding flag.

6. A signal comprising a longitudinally recessed staff, a plurality ofpivotally held secf tions, each section having its body-a metallic formand each section engaging the adjacent section at its said edge to forma flag when in its open position.

7. A signal comprising a staff having a pair of pockets formed in theupper end thereof, a pair of flags composed of a plurality of pivotallyheld metallic sections suitably connected to enable the same to befolded into said pockets when not in service and means for locking saidflags in said pockets.

In testimony whereof, I, aHiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. TAYLOR Vitnesses:

ANNA BURREss, FREDK J. LARsoN.

